ABSTRACT
Packing in a flotation column is one way to increase separation efficiency and effective way of descending flotation-column height. Based on sieve-plate packing, a high-efficiency mixed packing mode consisting of screen-plate packing and honeycomb-tube packing has been proposed, with the packing mode optimized in the cyclonic static micro-bubble flotation column in the separation zone. If mixed packing was used, the product concentration could be further increased to 27.60% from a feed of approximately 0.739% concentration with 93.38% recovery. Before sieve packing, in the large vortex, the bottom currents are directly carried up to the column inlet, creating a great disturbance in the fluid due to the influx of large floating bubbles. After sieve packing, the large-scale vortex and bubbles have disappeared. The flotation column is separated into several small narrow spaces by the sieve plate. The mixed packing further reduces the turbulence and back-mixing phenomenon, forms more stable gradient grade, improves selectivity, and achieves higher degree concentration in shorter cylinder.
